Morris Neal

Morris Neal, 91 passed away on September 30, 2022 at the Arabella Independent Living Center in Red Oak, Texas. He was born on October 4,1930 in Bethany, Oklahoma.

One of his many accomplishments was being awarded Eagle Scout in 1947. Morris graduated from Bethany High School and he went on to study and graduate from Bethany Nazarene College, (Class of 1952) with a degree in Economics. He earned a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Dayton in 1970.

Morris began his professional career in Dayton, Ohio as a civilian computer programmer and management information systems analyst.  He was then approached about working for the Monsanto  Research Corporation at Mound Laboratories, in Dayton, Ohio. He was a dedicated employee at Monsanto Corporation for 25 years. While at the lab, Morris worked on the design, development, and production of several projects such as the U.S. Naval Polaris submarine missile systems and the generators that were left on the surface of the moon to power instrumentation left there during the Apollo missions and other deep space probes.

Morris enjoyed a long and distinguished career with the United States Navy. In 1951 he enlisted during the Korean War conflict in the US Naval Reserve as a Seaman Recruit. During the next eleven years he served on board two Navy destroyers, the USS Willet and USS Haas. He served on the Willet twice and later served aboard the Destroyer Tender USS Everglades. He also volunteered and served as a member of the Navy’s Eighth Naval District’s Mobilization Team in Oklahoma City and in New Orleans.

In 1962, he applied for a direct commission as a U.S. Naval Intelligence Officer and was commissioned at the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade where he served at the U.S. Naval Intelligence Command in Dayton, Ohio. His initial assignments included work as an investigator for the Naval Investigative service, analysis of Vietnam prisoner of war debriefings, reconnaissance photographic, interpretation and counterintelligence operations. As an Executive Officer of the Dayton, OH Naval Intelligence Group, Morris was also involved in developing and providing initial computerized targeting data for 25 countries. Morris completed 39 years of military service in the U.S. Navy Reserve and retired as a Commander.

Morris was a long-standing member of the church of the Nazarene. He faithfully served for many years at Beavercreek Church of the Nazarene, Beavercreek, Ohio in such roles as being on the Board of Trustees and finance committee.  He raised his family in Ohio and retired from Monsanto and then moved back to Bethany, OK in 1995. Morris and Naomi enjoyed their retirement years with many wonderful lifelong friends in Bethany, where they also served and attended Bethany First Church of the Nazarene before moving to Red Oak, Texas in 2020.

Morris was a loving husband to Naomi whom he married on June 22, 1952. They celebrated their 70th  wedding anniversary this past summer with many family and friends. One of his many legacies will be that ALL of his children and grandchildren attended graduated from college and are excelling in their respective fields. He believed in and promoted the value of higher education to his family.  Morris also loved to travel and he and Naomi saw the world together. Morris had many interests which included boating, sailing, cars and car racing, especially the Indy 500 which he and his family attended many times.  Morris also loved reading and was very well read on most subjects.  He also loved Classical music and was an accomplished pianist.

He is survived by his loving wife Naomi, daughter Carla Corry and husband Alan of Franklin, Tennessee, Shelly Slack and husband Darrell of Waxahachie, Texas, son Michael Neal and wife Becky also of Waxahachie, sister Melba Lynn Case and husband Charles of Bethany, Oklahoma, ten grand-children and their spouses, two great grand-children, numerous nieces and nephews and extended family.

Morris was preceded in death by his parents Keener and Ruth Neal, Bethany Oklahoma.

Celebration of Life will be on Monday, October 17th, 3 PM at Wayne Boze Funeral Home in Waxahachie, Texas officiated by Reverend Alan Corry (Son-in-law). There will be a time to visit with the family after the service.

Burial will be at Dallas-Forth Worth National Cemetery, Dallas, Texas on Tuesday, October 18th.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Wounded Warriors Foundation Woundedwarriorproject.org